Moving in Rhythm

What a happy surprise. Truth is I just started this as a place holder for a busy weekend and yet I hustled to sneak in listening time because I really became invested in Mark and his issues. This story isn't really a romance and weirdly that's what made it work. For me. Mark is a good looking guy, he has a PhD in mathematics, and the work-out ethic of a muscleman. However he also suffers from crippling anxiety and self doubt which translates into teaching on-line, so as to avoid face to face interactions. As an added bonus he's not “out”, not even really to himself, and the thought of speaking with someone leaves him a stuttering mess which means his sexual encounters are anonymous, and on his part, almost silent, furtive encounters in seedy bars or alleys. His salvation comes when his brother Pete, who's doctor in the Army Reserve, is deployed to Afghanistan, asks him to come and care for Lisa, his pregnant wife. Up to this point Mark's only constant company has been his dog Belle. The move pushes him to interact with the world at large and though it's painful, difficult, and not at all easy, it turns out to be just what he needed. While accompanying Lisa to a Zumba class he meets Claire and Seth, each of which fill a void and coax him out his self-imposed shell. Claire gently prods and pokes him and imparts some sage and much needed advice, but who more importantly teaches him by example. And Seth who has found new ways to pursue his dance career when injury derailed him. Seth who likes musclemen. Seth who is all patience with his rescue greyhounds, and with Mark. I won't lie. This isn't a “lite” read. In fact it can be a little heavy, what with being in Mark's self-doubting, self-recriminating head all the time and then, via Lisa, Pete, and Claire the reality of war and the repercussions of battle. But overall I enjoyed it because it doesn't rely on magic D as a cure all to mental problems. It ends in a realistic and satisfying HFN tipping over to HEA soon. If things go well.The two standouts of this story were the narration by [a:Charlie Belmont 6432818 Charlie Belmont https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], PERFECT, and the dogs, Belle and Fred Astaire, who were full and well rounded characters. I'd never read [a:Dev Bentham 5682093 Dev Bentham https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1392476944p2/5682093.jpg] before but after this foray I'm pretty sure this won't be my last dip in to her pool.